Overview
EN ISO 11372:2011 - Gas cylinders - Acetylene cylinders - Filling conditions and filling inspection (ISO 11372:2011) specifies the minimum requirements for filling conditions and the inspection carried out before, during and immediately after filling individual acetylene cylinders. It harmonizes practical filling procedures, clarifies requirements for solvent-containing and solvent-free cylinders, and supports safe handling by fillers and filling stations. This standard is not applicable to cylinder bundles or manifolded assemblies (see ISO 13088).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Minimum requirements for filling conditions and filling inspection of individual acetylene cylinders.
- Not applicable to cylinder assemblies connected by manifolds (bundles).
- Definitions and fundamentals
- Key terms: acetylene cylinder, porous material, solvent (A = acetone, DMF), tare (tare A, tare S, tare F), maximum acetylene content/charge, saturation gas, residual gas, working pressure.
- Filling inspection (Clause 3)
- Inspections are required pre-fill, during filling, and post-fill.
- Pre-fill checks include verification of stamp-marking, labelling, colour coding, documentation (porous material, solvent type, specified solvent content, tare and total weight), expiry of periodic inspection and serviceable condition.
- Serviceability checks include absence of severe corrosion, arc burns, heat/fire damage and verification of fusible plugs (where fitted).
- Solvent content (new in 2011 edition)
- Requirements and methods for determining and replenishing solvent content; Annex B provides normative calculations for solvent content determination.
- Solvent-free cylinders (Clause 4)
- Specific pre-fill and post-fill inspection requirements applicable to solvent-free acetylene cylinders.
- Supporting information
- Annex A (informative): Safe operating diagram to illustrate correct filling conditions.
- Annex B (normative): Calculation method for solvent content determination.
Applications and users
EN ISO 11372:2011 is primarily used by:
- Filling station operators and trained fillers responsible for inspection and filling;
- Cylinder manufacturers, assembly and testing facilities (referenced for type testing per ISO 3807);
- Gas suppliers, cylinder pool managers and transport organizations managing acetylene cylinders;
- Safety officers, inspectors and regulators developing procedures that align with UN Model Regulations (the standard is written to be suitable for that application).
Practical uses include establishing written filling procedures, training personnel, assessing returned cylinders for re-filling, and ensuring safe solvent management.
Related standards
- ISO 13088 - cylinders in bundles (not covered by ISO 11372)
- ISO 3807 - type testing of acetylene cylinders (filling conditions basis)
- ISO 13769 - stamp-marking requirements
- ISO 7225 - cylinder labelling
- Supersedes EN 12754:2001 and EN 1801:1998
Keywords: EN ISO 11372:2011, acetylene cylinders, filling conditions, filling inspection, solvent content, safe operating diagram, gas cylinder filling.
